Windham World Affairs Council

2

What remains of civic action and space for civic activity in the Xi Jinping era in China? Since the onset of the Xi era in 2012, there has been a steady strengthening of social control, a reduction in the role of nongovernmental organizations and civic action, and repression of activists and dissidents. At the same time, nongovernmental social services and private philanthropy continue to grow. Based on his many years of work and research, Mark Sidel will explore how China currently approaches civic activity by both domestic and foreign organizations and what lies ahead for the civil society sector.

Mark Sidel is the Doyle-Bascom Professor of Law and Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madisonand an elected member of the American Law Institute. He serves on the boards of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, the China Medical Board, The Rights Practice (US), and other organizations.

He is a longtime specialist in civil society, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropy. He has been engaged with China since first visiting in 1972, including serving on the team that established the Ford Foundation's presence in China in the late 1980s and as a researcher and consultant. He also managed the Ford Foundation's programs in Vietnam and served in the Ford office in India.

Sidel has consulted widely with foundations, nongovernmental organizations and aid agencies on nonprofit and philanthropic activity in China, Vietnam, India and elsewhere in Asia. He has served as visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School, Melbourne Law School, Institutd'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), and other institutions, and has published widely on civil society, philanthropy and state-society relations in China and around Asia.

This is a free public event w/ a suggested $10 donation.

Registration is appreciated at https://marksidel.eventbrite.com where you can find a Zoom link if needed.